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Compensation and Benefit Strategies

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Employee Retention

Global HR

Legal Compliance

Strategic Leadership

Workforce Management

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Schedule Overview
Tuesday, September 19
Wednesday, September 20
Thursday, September 21

Tuesday, September 19

8:00 AM - 7:00 PM	Registration & Information Desk
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM	Pre-Conference Workshops
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM	Lunch On Own
1:00 PM - 2:45 PM	General Session
2:45 PM - 5:00 PM	Executive Forum
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM	Concurrent Workshops
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM	Concurrent Workshops
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM	Networking Reception

Wednesday, September 20

7:00 AM - 5:00 PM	Registration & Information Desk
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM	Meals
8:00 AM - 9:45 AM	Pre-Conference Workshop
9:45 AM - 10:15 AM	Meals
10:15 AM - 11:30 AM	Concurrent Workshops
11:30 AM - 12:45 PM	Meals
12:45 PM - 5:00 PM	Executive Forum
12:45 PM - 2:00 PM	Concurrent Workshops
2:00 PM - 2:30 PM	Meals
2:30 PM - 3:45 PM	Concurrent Workshops
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM	Concurrent Workshops

Thursday, September 21

7:30 AM - 1:30 PM	Registration & Information Desk
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM	Concurrent Workshops
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM	Meals
10:30 AM - 11:45 AM	Concurrent Workshops
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM	General Session

Tuesday, September 19

8:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Registration & Information Desk

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Pre-Conference Workshops

The Wise Helper & The Wounded Healer

Strategic Leadership

Advanced

This session requires pre-registration and an additional fee.

Great HR leaders are people who are aware of their wounds, abilities, and needs while preparing themselves not for the comfortable predictability of yesterday but also for the realities of today and all of those unknown possibilities of tomorrow. Unfortunately, in the process HR folks tend to incur wounds and become exhausted in an often thankless job. It's easy to experience feelings of aloneness, discouragement and frustration. Healing our wounds and maximization of our abilities gives birth to freedom in our lives. We still deal with difficult people but how we deal with them and the results are dramatically different.

Presented By:

Andrew Jacobs, Senior Partner, ReZults Transformational Consulting, San Francisco, California [biography]

Jacobs is an author, speaker, and consultant. He has served at the board level for large national organizations. The author of four books.

Pre-Conference Workshop

Designing a Well-Being Strategy for the Entire Employee Experience Lifecycle

Strategic Leadership

Executive

This session requires pre-registration and an additional fee.

From job application through the exit interview, what does well-being mean to your organization, and how is it woven throughout the employee experience? With employee departures costing companies 1/3 that worker s annual earnings*, a strategic well-being plan has reputational and financial impact for companies. In this interactive session, we ll explore a strategic well-being program s economic and reputational impact and share actionable takeaways CHROs and senior leaders can use throughout the employee lifecycle. *https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/news/all-things-work/pages/to-have-and-to-hold.aspx

Presented By:

Mark Mohammadpour, Owner and Chief Well-being Officer, Chasing the Sun, Portland, Oregon [biography]

A public relations executive turned well-being consultant, Mark Mohammadpour empowers businesses and their employees to prioritize their well-being so they can shine in the family room and the board room.

The Secret to Leading and Workforce Management in the 21st Century

Workforce Management

Executive

This session requires pre-registration and an additional fee.

In this session we'll provide the latest on marketplace disruptors (VUCA), market research on recruiting and retention, and science-backed tools that will help you and your teams prepare for the New Never-Normal and maximize opportunities in the Radical Changing, Disruptive Future.

Presented By:

Michael Schindler, Managing Partner - Executive Producer/Trainer, The VUCA Principle , Edmonds, Washington [biography]

Mike Schindler, US Navy Veteran, 2x author, Co-Exec producer of documentary, featured in USA Today, Boston Globe, SME on Leadership, Team Morale, and Veteran transition issues.

You've Implemented Paid Parental Leave - Now What?

Compensation and Benefit Strategies

Advanced

This session requires pre-registration and an additional fee.

Paid Parental Leave continues to be a hot topic in the United States. However, just because an employer has a paid parental leave policy doesn't mean that they have the right benefit in place for their population. Paid Parental Leave is just the start of parental benefits and employers have the opportunity to create a program that is truly best in class and not just paid time off. In this presentation, we will discuss emerging trends in benefit offerings that will show to take paid parental leave and how to create a program that truly stands apart from their competition.

Presented By:

Trevor Watson, AVP, Workforce Absence Management, HUB International Limited, Denver, Colorado [biography]

Trevor Watson has over 10 years experience working in a multitude of consulting, operational, and sales roles across the employee benefits and absence management industry.

Business Ethics for Teams: Understanding the Lines We Cannot Cross

Workforce Management

Intermediate

This session requires pre-registration and an additional fee.

The expectation is clear - conduct yourself in a professional and ethical manner. The lines of what is professional and unprofessional, or ethical and unethical, might be less clear. It is not uncommon for employees to find themselves reflecting on what the right thing to do might be. Ethical lines can be found in multiple policies and expectations beyond the core values. In this engaging and interactive program, participants evaluate policies to identify ethical lines, share stories of professionalism and ethics, review reporting structures when concerns arise, and discuss barriers to professionalism and ethical behaviors in the workplace.

Presented By:

Jennifer Bouman-Steagall, Attorney, Consultant, Red Kite, Tigard, Oregon [biography]

Experienced management-side employment attorney with 24+ years experience representing Pacific Northwest employers. Certified Executive Coach. Accomplished speaker for NHRMA, local SHRM chapters, and other groups. Professional member National Speakers Association.

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Lunch On Own

1:00 PM - 2:45 PM - General Session

Opening General Session

2:45 PM - 5:00 PM - Executive Forum

Flirting with Disaster: Identifying and Restraining Moral Compromise in an Organization

Strategic Leadership

Advanced

All of us have wounds. If not identified, these wounds can create subconscious thought patterns and limit a leaders' effectiveness. Recognizing these thought patterns can often help an organization's leadership team identify managerial and cultural weaknesses that negatively impact the business. This workshop will demonstrate how participants can identify potential pitfalls individually and organizationally to prevent turnover and possible crimes against the company. Participants will learn how to identify their wounds and patterns of thinking that increase stress, decrease productivity, and lead to moral compromises.

Presented By:

Andrew Jacobs, Senior Partner, ReZults Transformational Consulting, San Francisco, California [biography]

Jacobs is an author, speaker, and consultant. He has served at the board level for large national organizations. The author of four books.

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM - Concurrent Workshop

Employee Benefits Legal Compliance Update

Legal Compliance

Executive

From federal updates to state mandates, 2023 ushers in a multitude of changes that can challenge employers, leaving them with more questions than answers. Add in special disclosures, required benefits reporting, state leave developments and the ever-evolving Affordable Care Act mandates, and the new year can already feel overwhelming. Learn how your organization can remain compliant and recharge with practical and personalized guidance on how to comply with these new mandates. Join us for an in-depth discussion of federal and state changes, and insights on employee benefits strategies that will ensure your employee benefit programs remain compliant.

Presented By:

Liliana Salazar, Chief Compliance Officer, Pacific Region, Employee Benefits, HUB International, Culver City, California [biography]

Liliana possesses 25 years of experience in addressing the compliance and regulatory needs of employers and their group health plans and is a regular contributor to national/regional EB publications.

Taking Action to Remove Bias from Performance Reviews

Employee Retention

Executive

You're taking steps to improve diversity in your teams, but what actions are you taking to keep those employees happy and engaged? Most companies miss the opportunity to look for bias beyond the hiring process particularly in feedback and performance reviews. 86% of people feel that performance reviews are not accurate. It s not enough to have performance reviews. Why? Because their manager's feedback often skews negative, doesn't consider context, and they don't know how to give objective, helpful feedback. Join us for an interactive, experiential workshop identifying the bias lurking in your performance review cycles.

Presented By:

Shirin Nikaein, Co-Founder & CEO, Upful, Santa Monica, California [biography]

Shirin Nikaein founded Upful.ai, which tackles bias in performance reviews, to improve talent development, engagement, and retention. Shirin has 15 years of experience leading engineering, analytics, and product management.

Katie McLaughlin, Chief Strategist and Transformation Artist, McLaughlin Method, Seattle, Washington [biography]

Katie McLaughlin founded McLaughlin Method to build happier, healthier workplaces. She fuses theatre exercises with her 15 years experience in organizational change, transformative learning programs, and adult behavior & performance.

Balanced HR: Don't Forget the Humans

Strategic Leadership

Beginner

If you are struggling to find the balance between the people and compliance this session is for you. The many facets of human resources pull us in all different directions and maintaining the balance of people and compliance is required for the success of any organization. We will discuss the natural tension between these two requirements and the steps you can take to ensure both are considered and implemented in each Human Resource action.

Presented By:

Laurie Grenya, President, HR Answers, Inc. , Tigard, Oregon [biography]

Laurie has over 20 years of experience in HR management. She has a keen eye for solutions within best practices and acceptable risk and her passion is effective management.

The Story of Outward Mindset at Wagstaff

Workforce Management

Intermediate

Coming out of the pandemic, we have forgotten how to be intentional with our communication and see others as people. Wagstaff was no exception, and frankly, we were all really cranky. In the search for a solution, Wagstaff implemented the Outward Mindset training from the Arbinger Institute. Join us in discussing how this training created a framework for HR and managers to discuss performance and re-humanize employees. During this training, we'll take a deep dive into the Influence Pyramid. We'll share how it's shifted conversations, relieved pain points, and you'll learn how effectively implement the tool.

Presented By:

Heather Brandt, HR Manager, Wagstaff, Inc., Spokane Valley, Washington [biography]

Heather is a resourceful and knowledgeable HR and business professional with over a decade of experience and expertise. She implements best practice solutions at Wagstaff, Inc. as the HR Manager.

Beyond the Bamboo Curtain: Understanding America's Invisible Minority

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Intermediate

Asian Pacific Americans are the most misunderstood minority employee group in America. They are the highest-income, best-educated and fastest-growing racial group in the U.S. yet are the least likely to be promoted. Also, while 90% care about their company's success, over 40% say they don t feel a sense of belonging at work. Feeling included is the main driver of workplace engagement and retention. Learn the danger signs of companies that embrace the stereotypes of Asians as timid, quiet, and lacking in leadership and how to realize the full potential of these valuable employees.

Presented By:

Michael Lee, President, Seminars Unlimited, Inc., Dublin, California [biography]

Michael Lee has spoken on diversity and inclusion over 1,000 times around the world to Fortune 500 companies and SHRM chapters. He also has written ten books on D&I.

Top 10 Interview Secrets Designed to Select the Best Person for the Job

Legal Compliance

Beginner

Most leaders say they didn't intend to hire the performance disaster or the walking lawsuit, and yet, it seems to happen with startling frequency. Employees do not spontaneously combust into problem employees. Could it be poor planning, a lack of understanding about the job, job requirements, or something else? Yes to all! Interviewing and selecting the best person for a job is one of the most important functions a leader has, and, unfortunately, the most overlooked. Join us as we explore the top 10 interviewing and hiring secrets designed to select the best person for the job.

Presented By:

Jennifer Bouman-Steagall, Attorney, Consultant, Red Kite, Tigard, Oregon [biography]

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM - Concurrent Workshop

Dispute Resolution Among Employees

Global HR

Beginner

How employer conflict arises in the workplace can affect how employees view the company. HR professionals are often tasked with mediating staff issues, and working to provide a solution that everyone is happy with can be quite challenging. HR professionals need to find creative and strategic ways to resolve employee conflicts that are beneficial not only to the worker but also to the organization. For example, allowing both sides to be heard, remaining transparent in the decisions, and working to find solutions that make both parties happy can make the HR professional better equipped to handle problems as they arise.

Presented By:

The Future of Work is Family-Friendly: Strategies to Support Working Parents

Employee Retention

Executive

Washington businesses lost over $6.5 billion annually in direct and opportunity costs due to employee child care issues. Employers can strengthen their business by supporting the needs of working parents. Family-friendly policies and employer-supported child care are powerful tools to foster employee loyalty, improve retention, attract top talent, and enable employees to be more engaged in their work. Join us to learn about the ways businesses of all sizes can directly and indirectly support the child care needs of working parents as well as attract and retain top talent essential for business success. The future of work is family-friendly.

Presented By:

Paige Coleman, Child Care Program Specialist, WA State Department of Commerce, Olympia, Washington [biography]

Paige Coleman manages the Employer-Supported Child Care Technical Assistance Program. With an MBA in Sustainability, her experience includes over 15 years in community and economic development and entrepreneurship.

The Sky is Falling!!!! What Now? Crisis Management and the Role of HR.

Strategic Leadership

Advanced

We are living in an age when a company s good reputation can fizzle fast with a single viral Facebook post or cringeworthy Glassdoor review. All businesses are susceptible to situations with the potential to threaten the success and health of a company. These threats can be internal or external. Regardless of your industry, size, or resources, sometimes a crisis is unavoidable. Businesses should prepare ahead of time by implementing a crisis management plan, understanding the stages of a crisis, and ensuring you have the right people by your side to help you manage and work through a crisis.

Presented By:

Rick Grimaldi, Partner, Fisher Phillips, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania [biography]

Rick Grimaldi is a Partner at Fisher Phillips. His is also the author of FLEX: A Leader's Guide to Staying Nimble and Mastering Transformative Change in the American Workplace.

Rise Together: Explore the Five Cohesive Behaviors of a Team

Strategic Leadership

Intermediate

High functioning, productive teams rely on trust, productive conflict around ideas, buy-in and commitment to decisions, peer-to-peer accountability, and a focus on achieving collective results. This captivating program explores the dynamic Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team strategic leadership model and how it can benefit your organization. Learners at all levels of an organization can use and adopt the powerful principles, shape behaviors, and create a common language that empowers team members to rethink what it means to work and rise together.

Presented By:

Jennifer Bouman-Steagall, Attorney, Consultant, Red Kite, Tigard, Oregon [biography]

Making Your Strategic DEI Plan in YOUR Core Business Function Happen!

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Intermediate

There has been significant research showing diversity and inclusion help companies succeed. McKinsey's research shows that gender-diverse companies are 15% more likely to outperform their peers and ethnically-diverse companies are 35% more likely to do the same. Catalyst research shows that companies with more women on the Board statistically outperform their peers over a long period of time. Deloitte research shows that inclusive teams outperform their peers by 80% in team-based assessments. Learn the DE&I framework to use covering 8 areas of the business and the metrics to match the DE&I efforts.

Presented By:

The Pillars of Earned Wage Access

Compensation and Benefit Strategies

Intermediate

Earned Wage Access (EWA) is an outgrowth of the Gig Economy. Generational change in the workforce and the prevalence of the Gig Economy has demonstrated to employees that access to their pay can be nearly immediate! EWA allows employees to receive a portion of their earned wages in advance, as opposed to receiving the entire amount on a designated payday, and this is affecting recruiting and retention. This session will help attendees determine if the EWA is a viable Employee Benefit, a benefit that their company should evaluate, and how they can determine their best path towards deployment.

Presented By:

Brian Slowik, SVP and Co-Founder, rapid! Paycard, a division of Green Dot Corporation, Austin, Texas [biography]

Brian is rapid! PayCard Founder and SVP of Sales for Earned Wage Access and Paycards. Subject Matter Expert on Earned Wage Access and compliance matters.

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM - Networking Reception

Welcome Reception in Tradeshow

Wednesday, September 20

7:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Registration & Information Desk

7:00 AM - 8:00 AM - Meals

Networking Breakfast in Tradeshow

8:00 AM - 9:45 AM - Pre-Conference Workshop

General Session

9:45 AM - 10:15 AM - Meals

Networking Break in Tradeshow

10:15 AM - 11:30 AM - Concurrent Workshop

Building Positive Teams and Union Awareness

Legal Compliance

Intermediate

Union activity and interest in unions has experienced a spike in the last several years and union elections are being won at higher rates than in past decades. This presentation will explain why employees commonly organize unions and how to spot warning signs of organizing happening in your workplace. We'll provide best practices for how employers can respond to, and stay within the law, before and during union organizing efforts while also building stronger, positive teams at their company.

Presented By:

Trevor Caldwell, Partner, Miller Nash LLP, Portland, Oregon [biography]

Trevor Caldwell represents public and private employers in labor relations matters, focusing on advising, negotiating collective bargaining agreements, contract administration, arbitration, and representing clients before state and federal labor boards.

The Gratitude Effect! Unleashing the Power of Recognition & Appreciation at Work

Employee Retention

Intermediate

Human workplaces understand the power of acknowledgement in the workplace. But the most enlightened organizations are taking recognition and rewards a step further. By operationalizing gratitude at work, they are seeing measurable improvements in engagement, retention, safety, and productivity. That's because gratitude, when given frequently and crowdsourced, changes not only the receiver, but also the giver. Learn how some of the most admired global companies achieved eye-popping ROI through case studies supported by unique data science. Learn how to achieve the ideal total rewards and recognition structure with the right level of investment to positively impact culture and performance.

Presented By:

Devin Hughes, Chief Inspiration Officer, Devin C. Hughes Inc., Carlsbad, California [biography]

Devin Hughes is a captivating speaker, author, and culture expert. He helps leaders drive growth and engagement by aligning workplace culture with success.

Making Difficult Conversations, Safe Conversations

Strategic Leadership

Executive

It s difficult to address awkward and complicated workplace issues that negatively impact you, your team and organization. While challenging, career success is dependent upon your ability to respectfully communicate and influence positive change. Commonly, it's the concerns and behaviors that are not being addressed that result in strained working relationships, decreased productivity, and a negative culture. Whether working in person, remotely, or hybrid, foster greater innovation, inclusion, and collaboration by training people to implement a safe conversations communication framework for effectively addressing challenging team dynamics, mismanaged expectations, cultural insensitivity, and good old-fashioned bad behavior.

Presented By:

Lorie Reichel-Howe, Founder & Senior Trainer, Conversations In The Workplace, San Jose, California [biography]

Lorie Reichel-Howe is founder of Conversations in the Workplace. She leverages over 20 years of expertise in leadership communication and relationship management. Lorie trains people to effectively address workplace challenges.

Leadership in a Renewed Workplace: How YOU can Help Your Organization Bounce Back

Workforce Management

Intermediate

We've returned to work, situations have changed. Now what? Your leadership skills take on increased importance in a workplace filled with new challenges, and with an uncertain workforce that has greater need for renewed coping skills. How will you respond? We'll help the modern HR Executive guide their people through these uncertain times, using diverse techniques to help dissimilar workers cope and build resilience. Focusing on the new workplace and the new workforce, we'll give you guidance as you navigate unknown waters, and prepare you for the future high performance workplace in the COVID and post COVID era.

Presented By:

Alan Cabelly, Executive Director, Portland Leadership Institute, Portland, Oregon [biography]

A popular presenter at SHRM/NHRMA conferences, Alan Cabelly (PSU Professor Emeritus; Executive Director, Portland Leadership Institute) bridges the gap between theory and application. His goal: Nourish the Leader Within You

The Top 5 Reasons Why All Employers Should Care About the National Labor Relations Act

Legal Compliance

Intermediate

The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) governs private-sector unionized and non-unionized workplaces. Since 2020, the National Labor Relations Board s (NLRB) decisions and advice memos expanded labor protections for all employees, which included employee concerted activities, wearing union logos at work, handbook policies, investigation confidentiality, and worker classification. These changes demonstrate increasing NLRB scrutiny and enforcement over non-union employers interactions with employees. The presentation provides non-union and union employers with a primer on the NLRA and an overview of recent decisions that apply to all employers, including the result of a successful Unfair Labor Practice filed by an employee.

Presented By:

Ben Eckhart, Attorney, Archbright, Seattle, Washington [biography]

Ben Eckhart is an Attorney at Archbright. He regularly advises organizations on labor and employment laws, conducts investigations, and facilitates trainings. He earned his J.D. from the University of Denver.

Racing to the Moon - Landing your talent goals with inclusive benefits

Compensation and Benefit Strategies

Intermediate

Space, a moon landing, inclusive attraction, and retention benefit strategies, what? But hear us out The Space Race to the moon in the 60s was considered important because it showed the world which country had the best science, technology, and economic system. And today's job market feels a little like that. Healthcare delivery patterns have shifted; focus on DE&I has increased; mental well-being has been tested and turnover has challenged workers and organizations alike. This forward-looking session will use benchmarking data and employer trend information to better inform your benefits strategy to combat these challenges.

Presented By:

Morgan Donnelly, Market Leader, Gallagher, Bellevue, Washington [biography]

In her current role as Market Leader for the Northwest, Morgan is responsible for developing new business strategies and educates organizations on leading trends in achieving more sustainable workforce goals.

11:30 AM - 12:45 PM - Meals

Networking Lunch in Tradeshow

12:45 PM - 5:00 PM - Executive Forum

Retention Strategies for a Rapidly Changing Workforce

Employee Retention

Advanced

Employers have been significantly impacted by The Great Resignation as voluntary turnover is up almost 25% since 2018. If employers don t address the underlying issues causing employees to leave, 2023 will bring more of the same. Work Institute conducts over 30,000 exit and stay interviews annually and provides unique insights into why employees are leaving or at-risk of leaving. Our data reveals clearly what employers must do to effectively retain employees and those employers that chose not to adapt will likely see more turnover in the coming year.

Presented By:

Danny Nelms, CEO, Work Institute, Franklin, Tennessee [biography]

Co-author of the Employer Engagement: The Fresh and Dissenting Voice on the Employment Relationship, Danny is an agent of change, thought leader, and an expert in helping improve business results.

12:45 PM - 2:00 PM - Concurrent Workshop

Empowering HR: Effectively Manage Mental Health Accommodations in a Hybrid World

Legal Compliance

Intermediate

With 1 in 6 currently struggling with mental health issues, and the ongoing personnel impacts from the pandemic, navigating the accommodations requirements for workers with disabilities is more prevalent and complex than ever. This discussion of current guidance on accommodations, in the context of mental health, will focus on the unique issues related to remote workers and hybrid workplaces, including:

*The interplay between (paid and unpaid) leaves and accommodations
*How to maintain performance management standards without overstepping disabilities laws
*Current guidance on service animals in the workplace
*Practical strategies for managing, and correctly documenting, the interactive process

Presented By:

Amy Anderson, Director of Government Affairs for education, workforce development, health care and federal issues, Association of Washington Business, Olympia, Washington [biography]

Amy K. Anderson is the Director of Government Affairs for education, workforce development, health care, and federal issues. Amy holds degrees in Law, Health Policy and Administration, Philosophy, and Government.

Carolyn Busch, Innovation Workforce & Industry Sector Development Coordinator, WA Department of Commerce, Olympia, Washington [biography]

With over 30 years in public policy, Carolyn Busch serves as the Workforce Innovation Sector Lead at the Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness.

Susan Meenk, HR Expert Consultant, FirstRule Group Inc, Olympia, Washington [biography]

As a senior leader in healthcare, Susan Meenk has managed all areas of Human Resources. She is the Division Director for Compensation for the Pacific Northwest region of CommonSpirit Health.

Ben Robinson, Business Finance Consultant, First Rule Group Inc, Olympia, Washington [biography]

Ben Robinson has extensive financial and analytical experience in the public and private sector including serving as Chief Financial Officer for Provail and UW's School of Public Health.

Amy Robinson, Partner, Miller Nash LLP, Vancouver, Washington [biography]

Amy Robinson represents public and private employers throughout Washington, Oregon, and Alaska in a broad range of workplace-related issues and provides experienced counsel on compliance challenges and disputes.

Talent Retention Amidst Quiet Quitting and The Great Resignation

Employee Retention

Intermediate

Employee engagement is at an all time low and resignations at an all time high. Traditional HR solutions of compensation and benefits are failing miserably to turn things around. Keeping people happy is paramount yet most of us don't understand the real sources of our own happiness or any one else's. It s much more than compensation and benefits. This seminar focused on the science of human happiness will help you understand what really works to increase engagement and reduce resignations and how happy employees increase profitability.

Presented By:

Rob Dubin, Employee Engagement Expert, RD Creative LLC, Salida, Colorado [biography]

Rob Dubin combines lessons learned sailing with the science of happiness to teach courses which increase engagement, reduce resignations and end quiet quitting.

The Emperor's New Clothes: How to Work with Difficult People Without Losing Your Mind

Strategic Leadership

Intermediate

There is sometimes the need to have difficult conversations with difficult people under difficult circumstances in every company. Working with leaders who are narcissistic or at the very least have significant blind spots can dramatically impact an employee's effectiveness. This workshop offers practical tools for working with leaders who: "forget" conversations; preach collaboration but do not live it; refuse to accept responsibility and blame others for their mistakes. The skills learned in this workshop will help change interactions with you as seminar participants learn about their dysfunctions and improve their mental health, preventing blowback on you and other innocents.

Presented By:

Andrew Jacobs, Senior Partner, ReZults Transformational Consulting, San Francisco, California [biography]

Jacobs is an author, speaker, and consultant. He has served at the board level for large national organizations. The author of four books.

Self-Care for HR

Workforce Management

Beginner

Burnout: when you give and feel like you are not getting anything back. This includes a sense of reduced accomplishment and physical and emotional exhaustion. You keep dipping into and giving from your bucket and there is no one filling it back up for you. For HR, you may be experiencing Compassion Fatigue which encompasses a much greater level of stress and exhaustion, occurring as a result of helping others who are experiencing emotional or physical pain. The last couple of years have been a roller-coaster of emotions and very stressful - we need to prioritize care for ourselves.

Presented By:

Deborah Jeffries, VP, HR Answers, Inc., Tigard, Oregon [biography]

Deborah dedicates her professional life to assisting HR and others to find creative, practical ideas for organizational success. Sharing tools to engage & motivate participants - moving the needle forward - developing/refining processes.

3 Practical DEIB Exercises to Enhance Understanding and Open the Door to More Meaningful Connections

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Beginner

By breaking down stereotypes and other barriers to building meaningful connections, you can improve diversity in your workplace, encourage more deliberate acts of inclusion, and foster a stronger sense of belonging among team members. Instead of trying to address every diversity topic, this program focuses on demonstrating the power of 3 practical group exercises designed to enhance empathy and understanding while opening the door to more meaningful conversations. This highly interactive program invites participants to bust stereotypes, make personal connections, and learn 5 key guiding principles to creating a respectful and equitable workplace that engenders a meaningful sense of belonging.

Presented By:

Jennifer Bouman-Steagall, Attorney, Consultant, Red Kite, Tigard, Oregon [biography]

Benefits Plan Design: Have We Gone Too Far? Addressing Health Equity

Compensation and Benefit Strategies

Intermediate

A serious look at the impact High Deductible Health Plans and HSAs have played in actually compounding the issue of health equity. Discussion to include possible ways to re-imagine plan design to close the health equity gap for those most vulnerable to the financial stresses of healthcare.

Presented By:

Garry Simmons, Director - Health & Group Benefits Consulting, Milliman, Charleson, South Carolina [biography]

Garry Simmons is the national director for Milliman's Health and Group Benefits Practice. Garry has 40+ years of employee benefits leadership through large national consulting firms and insurance companies.

2:00 PM - 2:30 PM - Meals

Networking Break in Tradeshow

2:30 PM - 3:45 PM - Concurrent Workshop

The Distributed Workforce: A Primer for Multistate Employers

Legal Compliance

Beginner

In this hour we'll cover the basics of having employees in multiple states, as well as employees that split time between two or more locations. Which leave laws and wage and hour laws apply? Do they need harassment training? Should you have an appendix for your handbook that covers every state you operate in? We'll talk basic compliance as well as best practices and equity, so attendees will walk away with a better understanding of what they should be thinking about when they have a distributed workforce.

Presented By:

Kara Govro, Senior Legal Analyst, Mineral, Portland, Oregon [biography]

Kara is an SME on a range of HR topics and spends her time scouring employment laws to find key takeaways for employers and turn them into actionable advice.

They Can't Fix What They Don't Know

Employee Retention

Intermediate

Turnover continues to plague employers, often driven by managers who don't communicate, give poor feedback, and don't engage. When employees are in the dark, they assume the worst. To improve the employee experience, we can give managers tools to improve communication, engagement, feedback, and retention using this 4-part model.

Presented By:

Wade Larson, Owner/Senior Consultant, Optimal Talent Dynamics, Spokane, Washington [biography]

Dr. Wade is a workforce consultant, author, & speaker with 30 years in HR, strategy, and talent. He works with organizations to improve outcomes, cultures, and leadership to achieve their goals.

I'm Puzzled!

Strategic Leadership

Executive

Why are people leaving our organization? Why aren't we growing? We keep our employees engaged so why don't we have better results? Engagement is important as we continue to hear over and over again, yet it's only one piece of the puzzle. The overall employee experience is the puzzle we're trying to put together and as we focus on each piece of the puzzle, we will get a clear picture. Some pieces may need to fit perfectly but during this session, you'll learn techniques for shaping puzzle pieces to fit with your organization.

Presented By:

Christine Brown, HR Services Partner & Lead Recruiter, Alera ConnectHR, Anchorage, Alaska [biography]

With strong knowledge in recruiting, staffing in large organizations, talent management & acquisition, training, development, & employee engagement. Earning a degree in political science & actively volunteers.

Jessica Wobick, Manager of HR Services, Alera ConnectHR, Anchorage, Alaska [biography]

Jess supports employees & clients. With over 15 years of HR experience she is professional, and organized, & creates rapport with employees & managers. She has a bachelor's degree in business administration.

Scott Cohen, Healthcare Analytics Consultant, Milliman, Atlanta, Georgia [biography]

With more than 15 years of healthcare analytic experience, Scott is an expert in developing employer population health strategies that improve clinical outcomes, cost-effective utilization, and overall health.

Jonathan Davey, HR Services Partner & Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, Alera ConnectHR, Tacoma, Washington [biography]

Partnering with & coaching firm management on all aspects of HR activities, implements solutions to create efficiencies, & increase productivity. A Gallup Certified Strengths Coach & Conflict Dynamics Profile Certified Facilitator

Cherie Hendrix, Employee Benefits Sr. Consultant, National Accounts, Wilson Albers, Tacoma, Washington [biography]

20 years of experience in the industry, leading our teams for large groups & self-funded plans providing benefits program strategy, healthcare reform guidance, financial analysis, & account management.

A Fresh Look at HR Basics, Bringing the "Human" Back to Human Resources

Workforce Management

Intermediate

Many of us are accepting new HR Roles or starting at new organizations. This presentation is designed to give helpful tips and basics to review when assessing your environment, as well as things to keep in mind when dealing with the human factor. Our presentation will bring back the passion of why we entered this profession and reignite that drive and learn how to actively listen and engage with internal customers. Even if you are not in a new organization, this will provide ideas and resources whether you are new to HR or a seasoned professional.

Presented By:

Teresa Hogan, Human Resources Director, Jammies Environmental, Inc., Longview, Washington [biography]

35+ years of experience, Lominger certified 360 Feedback Coach, testified for NELP in Washington, DC, served on various boards, extensive experience in organizational structure and strategic management.

Lisa Biscay, HR Business Partner, Office of Legislative Support Services, Washington State Legislature, Olympia, Washington [biography]

International award winner for HR work, consultant for Pew, USDL, served on many boards, testified Oregon Legislature and NELP in Washington, DC, passed legislation in six states for HR law.

Creating a Culture of Belonging

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Intermediate

Organizational culture refers to the values, beliefs, and behaviors that shapes how work gets done within an organization. In a culture of belonging, that means an environment that supports comfort, connection, and contribution. This means creating a space where every person feels a sense of belonging, where everyone can thrive without compromising their identity or their values. It is the sense you get that you are a valued member of a community and in turn have a sense of purpose. Belonging has a strong correlation to commitment and motivation at the workplace, directly translating to employee retention, pride, and motivation.

Presented By:

Deborah Jeffries, VP, HR Answers, Inc., Tigard, Oregon [biography]

Are You Talking to Me? Foster Understanding Through Meaningful Team Communication

Workforce Management

Beginner

Personality conflicts hamper communication and usually lead to misunderstandings, hurt feelings, and perceptions of unfair treatment. To motivate your team and achieve maximum results, it is critical that you communicate in a way that shows you value, appreciate and respect your team. It may surprise you to learn that you may not be communicating your well-intentioned message in a way that is meaningful to your listeners. This engaging and interactive program is suitable for anyone who wants to improve their communication skills. If your success depends on your ability to communicate and work well together, this program is for you!

Presented By:

Jennifer Bouman-Steagall, Attorney, Consultant, Red Kite, Tigard, Oregon [biography]

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM - Concurrent Workshop

The Battle of the Benjamins: How to Survive Pay Transparency

Legal Compliance

Advanced

In this presentation/workshop we'll address the changing landscape of pay transparency, pay posting, and pay equity, and take a close look at Washington's wage range posting law. We'll address best practices for employers when it comes to creating and sharing wage ranges, as well as steps they can take to create a culture that not only supports equity but that benefits from it. Attendees will leave with action items to help them get and stay on track with their pay transparency obligations and aspirations.

Presented By:

Kara Govro, Senior Legal Analyst, Mineral, Portland, Oregon [biography]

Kara is an SME on a range of HR topics and spends her time scouring employment laws to find key takeaways for employers and turn them into actionable advice.

Megan Lemire, Legal Analyst, Mineral, Portland, Oregon [biography]

Megan enjoys digging into the nitty gritty of employment laws so employers don't have to, and can often be found combing through rules and regulations.

Leading Remote Teams in Digital Times

Employee Retention

Advanced

The hybrid workplace is the future of work, and now is the time to prepare your managers to thrive. Over half of workers say they want a hybrid workplace, but many managers fear losing control. What worked for them before, may not work now. In this session you will learn tips to help your leaders adapt and succeed in a remote workplace. By focusing on culture, performance, engagement, and relationships, your leaders will gain the skills and knowledge to succeed in the new world of hybrid work.

Presented By:

Andrea Ballard, Talent Advisor, Clark Nuber PS, Bellevue, Washington [biography]

Andrea Ballard, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, is a Talent Advisor for Clark Nuber in Bellevue, WA. Andrea has over 20 years of HR experience and is a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach.

The ROI of Empathy: The Real Story on What Empathetic Leadership Looks Like and How to Achieve It

Strategic Leadership

Intermediate

The workplace culture is changing. Is your team or company stuck in the Dark Ages or are you ready to nurture leaders who will embrace change, attract and retain top talent, boost productivity and accelerate innovation? In this session, we'll define empathetic leadership, debunk the common myths that hold us back, and discover actionable ways to strengthen your own empathy and create a culture where your people can thrive. Open your eyes to the value of empathetic leadership and how to achieve it.

Presented By:

Maria Ross, Empathy Advocate, Speaker, Author, Leadership Facilitator, Red Slice, LLC, Pacifica, Colorado [biography]

Believes cash flow, creativity, and compassion are not mutually exclusive. Helps forward-thinking leaders connect and engage through empathy. Author, The Empathy Edge. Podcaster. TEDx speaker. Seen in MSNBC, NPR, Entrepreneur.

In Person, Remote, Hybrid -Oh My! Dealing With the Emotional Reactions of Where and How Work Gets Done

Workforce Management

Intermediate

To remote or not to remote? To hybrid or not to hybird? Organizations try and no one seems to be happy. HR and Managers are at the heart of negotiating the emotional turmoil of how and where work gets done. What to do? This workshop will explore tools and responses to manage the conflict and emotionally charged dynamics of where the work gets done.

Presented By:

Carol Bowser, President, Conflict Management Strategies, Tacoma, Washington [biography]

Former Employment Lawyer turned Workplace Conflict Management Expert. Ms. Bower works with a wide range of organizations to help them address and prevent workplace conflict.

Unlock Genius Using the Interplay of Skill and Challenge

What if tapping into your genius is the key to finding meaning, joy, and fulfillment in your work? Imagine a culture where people are deeply engaged producing their best work. Collaboration happens with ease, and team synergy creates innovative outcomes. At the end of the day people leave inspired, fulfilled, and are looking forward to tomorrows work. This is not a fantasy. Its the natural outcome of unlocking genius. In this interactive workshop, Flow State Speaker and Violinist Diane Allen shares how to use the interplay of skill and challenge to unlock genius and discover new ways to increase employee engagement, retention, and recruitment.

Presented By:

Diane Allen, International Speaker, Violinist, Thought Leader [biography]

International Speaker and Violinist Diane Allen is a TEDx/TED Speaker, and Thought Leader who speaks on increasing the meaning, joy and fulfillment in one's work and life by accessing the flow state. Years before neuroscientists discovered the positive impact the flow state has on achieving peak performance, Diane had already experienced the power of flow in her own career as a violinist. It was her unique approach to getting into flow, on demand, that landed her a spot on the TEDxNaperville stage as well as features on TED, ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, Associated Press, Boston Herald, Authority Magazine, and Thrive Global. Today, Diane is known for her experiential Keynotes, Training and Coaching programs that go Beyond Engagement featuring her three-step Flow Strategy system which empowers people to get into their flow state, be in their genius, and love their job.

Under the Spotlight: Managing Through a Crisis

Legal Compliance

Intermediate

This presentation will provide tips on how to manage high-profile matters, from high-stakes litigation to public scandals. The organization may be in crisis, but the work (and the work of the people) must go on. Topics will cover how to best prepare for a crisis before it hits, how to manage people in crisis, and highlight specific employee issues that arise from times of crisis (i.e., employee morale, employee witness and whistleblower protections, indemnity and defense obligations of impacted employees, etc.).

Presented By:

Liani Reeves, Attorney, Bullard Law, Portland, Oregon [biography]

Liani represents employers in a wide range of employment advice matters and litigation, with an emphasis on working with high-profile clients. She is a frequent speaker on employment law topics.

Thursday, September 21

7:30 AM - 1:30 PM

Registration & Information Desk

8:30 AM - 10:00 AM - Concurrent Workshop

The Top 5 Reasons Why All Employers Should Care About the National Labor Relations Act

Legal Compliance

Intermediate

Employers have a duty to conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of alleged acts of harassment, discrimination, workplace violence, and unsafe work practices. But as HR professionals become more adept at conducting workplace investigations, they may find that complicated issues arise regarding confidentiality, privacy, recording, cross-complaints, and managing the scope of the investigation. Being prepared to overcome these challenges is necessary to ensure a successful and compliant internal investigation.

Presented By:

Ben Eckhart, Attorney, Archbright, Seattle, Washington [biography]

Beth Touschner, Attorney, Archbright, Seattle, Washington [biography]

Beth Touschner is an Attorney at Archbright. She has over ten years of employment law experience, and advises employers on leave and labor laws, wage and hour, and employee discipline.

Onboarding & Integration with Intentionality - Building the Framework for Success

Employee Retention

Intermediate

We all want the same thing when it comes to hiring new talent providing them with a smooth, seamless transition into their new role where they feel welcomed and supported as key contributors to their team. We also want them to feel productive, engaged, and happy as they foster your companys strategic vision. Join us as we navigate the world of Onboarding & Integration (O&I), so your new hires can see and experience a path to success at your company. We'll also discuss tools and resources to help you get started with building your own personal O&I framework.

Presented By:

Christopher Boccuzzo, Manager, Onboarding & Integration, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, Seattle, Washington [biography]

I bring over 9 years of professional experience in Human Resources with subject-matter expertise in Employee Relations, Learning & Development, Coaching, Engagement, and Retention.

Creating a Culture of Accountability, Not Blame

Strategic Leadership

Executive

In every organization, there are times when challenges occur, processes breakdown and when deadlines are missed. At these times, it s common for communication breakdowns to occur, for defensiveness to erupt and for progress to halt. When people have the skill to describe problems without laying blame or attacking people, they transform finger-pointing and fault-finding into taking responsibility for finding solutions and solving problems. Put an end to skirting of responsibility and refusal to take ownership by training people to hold accountability conversations.

Presented By:

Lorie Reichel-Howe, Founder & Senior Trainer, Conversations In The Workplace, San Jose, California [biography]

Mental Health in the Workplace: The Critical Role of Managers

Workforce Management

Executive

This interactive workshop will explore the critical role of managers in supporting workers' mental health and responding to signs of mental health issues, such as stress, burnout, depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and suicidal ideation. The workshop is designed to provide evidence-based insights and practical guidance on how leaders of people (i.e., senior leaders, managers, supervisors) can support and protect employee mental health.

Presented By:

Leslie Hammer, Co-Director, Oregon Healthy Workforce Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon [biography]

Oregon Healthy Workforce Center, Total Worker Health® center of excellence, at OHSU. A leading international expert on the mental and physical health effects of supportive supervision at work.

Words Matter: Top 10 Effective Documentation Strategies

Workforce Management

Beginner

Words matter. Whether you are setting expectations, evaluating performance, coaching, counseling, disciplining, terminating, or even just memorializing a key event, words matter. How you document, when, how often, and how you follow up on your documentation all have legal and non-legal implications for your workplace. Grab your pen and pad and join us as we learn why documentation is important from a legal and non-legal perspective, what kinds of documentation you should use, how to use documentation as a meaningful performance management tool, how and when to document, and where to put the paper when your documentation is complete.

Presented By:

Jennifer Bouman-Steagall, Attorney, Consultant, Red Kite, Tigard, Oregon [biography]

Concurrent Session

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM - Meals

Networking Break in Tradeshow

10:30 AM - 11:45 AM - Concurrent Workshop

The Hostile Workplace: How to Identify, Stop, and Prevent It

Legal Compliance

Intermediate

Employers often jump out of their seats at the mention of a "hostile workplace," and employees, too, often think that anything that is unfair or uncomfortable is hostile. But this isn't the case. We'll take a close look at what constitutes illegal harassment, and a hostile workplace in particular, so attendees can feel more confident in identifying situations that need addressing because they are headed straight for litigation versus those that need addressing because they affect productivity and morale. We'll also address best practices and culture building to help you create a harassment-free workplace.

Presented By:

Kara Govro, Senior Legal Analyst, Mineral, Portland, Oregon [biography]

Kara is an SME on a range of HR topics and spends her time scouring employment laws to find key takeaways for employers and turn them into actionable advice.

Are You Really Listening?

Employee Retention

Beginner

As employees seek more attention, feedback and support, HR leaders must be mindful of individual needs in order to more effectively inspire professional development and overall performance. HR Leaders who listen are able to create trustworthy relationships that are transparent and breed loyalty and support SHRM s relationship management competency. Listening is a critical competency in the HR field, and the basis for effective communication. Surprisingly, relatively few professionals have ever had any formal training in how to listen effectively.

Presented By:

Allison Brown, HR Certificate Instructor , PSU, Center for Executive and Professional Education, Portland , Oregon [biography]

Allison Brown, M.A., SHRM-SCP, GPHR is a leadership development, human capital, and global program management professional with over 20+ years of experience.

Soft Skills Codified: Your Company Culture Operating System

Strategic Leadership

Executive

Culture eats strategy for breakfast, says Drucker. The problem is that while your team can have a single meeting to talk through and determine strategy, culture is much harder to wrangle. In this interactive workshop presentation, we introduce leaders to a unique way of thinking about culture not as something that operates passively on top of your work, but as a foundational source of everything that happens in your company. And you'll learn simple tools you can immediately employ to deliberately shape your culture, the contagious patterns of how we do things around here,from within.

Presented By:

Aaron Smookler, CoFounder of The Yes Works, The Yes Works, Tacoma, Washington [biography]

Aaron Schmookler works with business leaders who believe that their people are their greatest asset.

Change Happens: Surviving the Emotional Rollercoaster of Change

Workforce Management

Intermediate

You are not an ostrich. Sticking your head in the sand and pretending change is not happening will not stop the future. Change is happening around you, and it is possible to have a great past and great future. Change takes many forms in the workplace, and we have had our share of changes the past few years. We each view, anticipate, and work through change differently. How change feels depends on how we move through it, and sometimes moving through it is the hardest part. I've been there, and I am still riding the rollercoaster.

Presented By:

Jennifer Bouman-Steagall, Attorney, Consultant, Red Kite, Tigard, Oregon [biography]

Don't steal the dream of your overseas talent

Global HR

Intermediate

In Real Estate, we think about Location, Location, Location. When it comes to managing your global HR operation the mantra is Different, Different, Different; as in everything is different based on the countries in which you are operating and the regulatory changes that seem to happen every day. In this session, Mike Butler will share some trends in global expansion; help you anticipate global HR complexities; advise on the engagement of those important overseas employees. And by the way, don't assume you have a talent pool on your doorstep when you head overseas.

Presented By:

Michael Butler, Director, Cross-Border HR, Las Vegas, Nevada [biography]

Mike Butler has more than 20 years of experience as an HR executive. He runs Cross-Border HR, advising companies on international expansion. He has written exam questions for Global HR certifications.

Deconstruct Your Policies to Reinforce Your Culture of Belonging

Workforce Management

Intermediate

Sustaining an ongoing culture of belonging takes intentional, culturally informed, systemic effort. Belonging is an outcome of a diverse, inclusive work environment when individuals feel like a valued and essential part of the team. Many current workforce paradigms view people as valuable resources rather than complex humans who bring multi-faceted strengths to the organizations. Therefore, organizations must approach the way they support, develop, and retain their people in new ways. This session provides actionable strategies to work within workplace systems and policies to create positive cultural change.

Presented By:

Serilda Summers-McGee, Principal and CHRO, Workplace Change, Portland, Oregon [biography]

Serilda Summers-McGee is the CEO and founder of Workplace Change, a people and culture firm focused on the evolution of workplaces by integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion into HR practices.

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM - General Session

Unlock Genius for Increased Engagement, Retention, & Recruitment

What if tapping into your genius is the key to finding meaning, joy, and fulfillment in your work? Imagine a culture where people are deeply engaged producing their best work. Collaboration happens with ease, and team synergy creates innovative outcomes. At the end of the day people leave inspired, fulfilled, and are looking forward to tomorrows work. This is not a fantasy. Its the natural outcome of connecting what people love to what they do. A Thought Leader in the Positive Psychology of Peak Performance, Violinist Diane Allen shares her three-step Flow Strategy system in this highly experiential program. Youll learn three simple questions that unlock genius and how to utilize them to improve employee engagement, retention, and recruitment.

Presented By:

Diane Allen, International Speaker, Violinist, Thought Leader [biography]

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